Its been just over a year since the death of Joey Ramone. I would just like to take time out to ask you all.... What did The Ramones mean to you?

Personally, The Ramones played a big part in my music influences. They helped me have a more open view on music. Everytime I hear that familliar upbeat music it makes me think back to the days when I had my shades, my tennis racket and my little leather jacket. Standing in front of my mirror, singing along and dancing to Blitzkrieg Bop. One of the few silly memories of my life which comes flooding back to me whenever I hear The Ramones.

I can't help feeling an overwhelming sorrow knowing that Joey has died. They were one of the few American bands that I ever payed attention to. I get all emotional when I see one of their music videos.

Well, from what I've heard they were the band to begin punk. For that I have to thank them. Grunge would not exist without them.

Sphyre, they made a great contrabution to American alternative scene. Without them, I doubt that grunge would have came about and I doubt the British would have opened their eyes to American talent in the days of facism. There was alot going on in Britan at the time but still, they managed to become popular over here, which, in its own right was a great achievement. I mean, they influenced alot of bands that are around today, both British and American.

I just wish Joey Ramone was here to see the influence his band has had on the underground scene over the past year since his death.

On the other hand, he would have had to suffer through the shitty works of bands like Green Day (whine to much about their label of corporate punk), Blink 182 (the pop-punk band that "sold out" but was never cool enough to sell out) and Sum 41 (trend followers who played pop punk simply to get money and are now going to play "metal" after making fun of Judas Priest)

Yes, he did good and would probably love to see it. But would he want to see the bad?

The Ramones were a little simple (musically) for me, but they were original, and that is worth much in my eyes. Straightforward and honest...it really doesn't get much better than that.